Those fantasy football managers who endured a horrific and very frustrating start from Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs this season had their loyalty in his dynamic talent rewarded with some exceptional fantasy performances over the back half of the 2023 NFL season.
However, despite Gibbs’ recent success, is he considered a must-start in the fantasy championship at the RB position heading into their tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17?
Should You Start Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 17?
It must’ve been agonizing for Gibbs shareholders to watch David Montgomery gobble up rushing touchdown after rushing touchdown through the first month of the season, while the talented rookie would consistently flash elite playmaking skills only to see fewer than half the amount of touches of Montgomery on a weekly basis.
Well, there has certainly been a changing of the guard over the last seven games. Since Week 10, Gibbs is the RB2 in all of fantasy football with 624 total yards and eight TDs, which has helped produce an average of 18.8 fantasy points per game during that span.
If you shrink that sample size down even more, he has seen 11+ carries and scored a TD in three straight games. His 5.66 yards per carry this season is among the very best at the RB position for players with more than 150 carries in 2023.
His 51 receptions and 872 yards rushing have made him the 15th running back since the turn of the millennium to rush for over 400 yards and catch 50 passes in their rookie season.
The best thing about Gibbs’ outlook in Week 17 is that he feels game-script-proof.
If the Lions dominate the Cowboys up front and run the ball down their throat — similar to how the Buffalo Bills did two weeks ago — then it should be a very productive rushing day for Gibbs.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
If the Cowboys’ offense continues to score around 40 points per game at home against the Lions on Saturday, then Gibbs’ dynamic passing skill set will lead to him being on the field and touching the ball more often than Montgomery in Week 17.
He is a certified top-10 play at the RB position against the Cowboys.
Trending Start/Sit Searches For Gibbs
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It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Gibbs or Alvin Kamara?
Gibbs’ 51 receptions this season are impressive, but no RB has a higher pass-catching floor than New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara this year.
Kamara leads all backs with 73 receptions in 2023, which includes a 13-catch performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Week 4 — the team they just so happen to be playing on Sunday. I’m going with Kamara in Week 17.
Should You Start Gibbs or Bijan Robinson?
If this were a dynasty startup fantasy draft, then I’d still probably going with Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson. Unfortunately, both of these players are splitting work with other backs, but only one plays in an elite offense.
Robinson has better days ahead, but Gibbs is the better fantasy option in Week 17.
Derek Tate’s Week 17 RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (at WAS)
2) Kyren Williams | LAR (at NYG)
3) Alvin Kamara | NO (at TB)
4) Rachaad White | TB (vs. NO)
5) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. CIN)
6) Jonathan Taylor | IND (vs. LV)
7) James Cook | BUF (vs. NE)
8) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at CHI)
9) Raheem Mostert | MIA (at BAL)
10) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. CAR)
11) Tony Pollard | DAL (vs. DET)
12) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (vs. PIT)
13) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at DAL)
14) Joe Mixon | CIN (at KC)
15) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (at BUF)
16) Breece Hall | NYJ (at CLE)
17) Derrick Henry | TEN (at HOU)
18) D’Andre Swift | PHI (vs. ARI)
19) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (at JAX)
20) De’Von Achane | MIA (at BAL)
21) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. LAC)
22) Aaron Jones | GB (at MIN)
23) Ty Chandler | MIN (vs. GB)
24) Saquon Barkley | NYG (vs. LAR)
25) David Montgomery | DET (at DAL)
26) Austin Ekeler | LAC (at DEN)
27) Devin Singletary | HOU (vs. TEN)
28) Josh Jacobs | LV (at IND)
29) James Conner | ARI (at PHI)
30) Najee Harris | PIT (at SEA)
31) Gus Edwards | BAL (vs. MIA)
32) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. NYJ)
33) Jaylen Warren | PIT (at SEA)
34) Antonio Gibson | WAS (vs. SF)
35) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. ATL)
36) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at HOU)
37) Chase Brown | CIN (at KC)
38) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. SF)
39) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (at CHI)
40) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (vs. PIT)
41) Kareem Hunt | CLE (vs. NYJ)
42) AJ Dillon | GB (at MIN)
43) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (vs. SF)
44) Khalil Herbert | CHI (vs. ATL)
45) Justice Hill | BAL (vs. MIA)
46) Dameon Pierce | HOU (vs. TEN)
47) Zamir White | LV (at IND)
48) Alexander Mattison | MIN (vs. GB)
49) Jamaal Williams | NO (at TB)
50) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. ARI)
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